In light of the COVIC-19 outbreak, churches in Singapore, Hong Kong, and China have suspended physical worship services with streaming taking their place for the meantime. (As of this writing, I have yet to hear of a similar directive here and I pray that there may never be a need for it.) This made me wonder about the implications of corporate gatherings especially when this is all over. Will they still want to come to church?

More often than not, when pastors preach on Hebrews 10:25, there is always the stress against going to church haphazardly or only when we feel like it as it will dissipate our zeal for corporate worship and soon, we find that we don’t miss going to church at all. So how can believers in affected countries make sure they don’t waver in the faith and in their desire to come together? Make them feel like corporate worship has always been there.

For those who belong to a family of Christians, they need to be reminded that they are already a church. They can do their own corporate worship including breaking bread and giving; they can also watch the services online together. But what if the believer is the only Christian in the household? S/he can organize a watch party with other believers and do video chats for prayer and sharing.

Pastors can also deliver a sermon encouraging the faithful to remain strong. Better if they can come up with a series (sermon or devotion) on remaining faithful like coping with fear and anxiety, healing, losing a loved one, discriminating and being discriminated upon, etc. People need to hear the Word in relation to what they are going through. They don’t need another sermon on a topic they have heard several times before during “normal” days. They need to see God’s Word applied during these “abnormal” times. They need strength and encouragement to see themselves through and be excited for that Sunday when everyone can finally come to the church building with no face masks and with no apprehension in shaking hands and hugging each other as they thank the Lord for His deliverance.

Brothers and sisters, this too shall pass.